Key Issues

What do we know about the smuggling of cigarettes into Canada?

1. We have the testimony of former RJR-Macdonald executive Les Thompson, and we know details of federal allegations regarding the role of RJR-Macdonald, US-based R.J. Reynolds, and the Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers’ Council. There are media reports of criminal investigations.

Ex-tobacco executives co-opted by RCMP, Globe and Mail, April 7th, 2000. Tobacco company executives are apparently helping the RCMP in their investigations in hopes of getting reduced sentences. [no longer available]

Smuggling meant gains for tobacco company, Globe and Mail, April 18th, 2000. [no longer available] The B.C. government has released a new set of documents from Guildford, including numerous interesting ones about Imperial Tobacco and smuggling. The document referred to in the Globe and Mail article is a 17-page “Market Update” from April 25, 1994, making it clear how “DFX” (duty free) is simply seen as another “distribution channel” — though other documents make clear that most DFX shipments end up on the black market.